Those with Medicare plans should receive an Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage from their current Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans by September 30th. If you do not receive this by October 15th, it’s recommended you contact your insurance company. These notices show possible changes to your existing plan. Example might be that your premium or deductible is increasing; or a medication is becoming more expensive. Another example is the Medicare Advantage you have is no longer offered where you live.
During Open Enrollment, the Office of the Insurance Commision says you can:
- Switch between Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa
- Change your Medicare Advantage plan to a different one
- Join or switch a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
- Do nothing if you don’t want changes
Understanding and choosing a Medicare plan can be confusing and overwhelming. You are not alone; free help is available!
All changes to your plan must be made at Medicare.gov.
If you need assistance comparing plan options or making changes to your plan, contact your local Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisor (SHIBA) program. SHIBA provides free, neutral, and confidential help exploring which might work best for you.
Contact your local SHIBA program at 800-562-6900 to schedule an appointment.
Bring the following information to your appointment:
- Your Medicare card
- Current insurance card or prescription drug cards AND a list of current medications
- Any letter(s) from the Social Security Administration about your eligibility for Extra Help or changes in your prescription drug coverage
- An estimate of your monthly, or annual, income as well as resources and assets
- An approximate out-of-pocket dollar amount you currently pay for medication and medical expenses
If you need help paying for all or part of your Medicare premiums, you may qualify for the Medicare Savings Program. This program can potentially cover your Part A and B premiums, coinsurance, copayments and deductibles. To learn more, contact your local Area Agency on Aging or SHIBA.
For more information on Medicare Open Enrollment, including how to obtain a free Medicare Open Enrollment Jumpstart kit, visit Insurance.wa.gov/medicareOEP.
